2012-11-19 Board of Ethics minutes

Home

HAWAI‘I COUNTY BOARD OF ETHICS MINUTES – REGULAR SESSION Monday, November 19, 2012 10:00 a.m. to 11:23 a.m. County Council Chambers 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Members and Staff Present: John E. K. Dill, Chair Bernard Balsis, Vice Chair Arne Henricks, Member Glen Hisashima, Member Renee N. C. Schoen, Deputy Corporation Counsel Mary E. Fujio, Secretary 1. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Dill called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. 2. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS Mr. Dill called up Margaret Wille, who had signed up to testify on agenda item 5a (Petition No. 2012-03), and he reminded the public that statements are limited to three minutes per agenda item. MS. WILLE: I spoke at the previous Board meeting, and I want to sort of incorporate my statements at that meeting here today, so I’m not repeating all of what I said. And I believe that there’s a clear violation of Section 2-83 in terms of allowing the County employees—the County allowing union employees to meet and campaign at County locations on County time. I think this sets up a vicious cycle. I think that the rules, the ethics rules, are clear and I basically am asking you as the Board to uphold and be accountable and be leaders in terms of saying these laws, these ethics rules, mean what they say, and they are enforceable. I do understand that you have—or I believe you’ve requested information from the County Council’s office. I also think there’s an issue there in terms of a conflict of interest, where the Corporation Counsel is also a member of the Mayor’s cabinet, political cabinet, not simply a removed—like legal representation. In my view that—at least in this context—represents wearing two hats. And let me just say, this was meetings—I believe there were up to three or four meetings. I was a candidate in this campaign, in this election. I knew nothing about these meetings. 1